Last updated: August 29, 2023

Hitting for the Cycle

Hitting for the cycle - a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. How often does that happen? Not very often, especially considering that a cycle is a microcosm of what makes a complete hitter: power (homer), speed (triple) and average (four hits). That doesn't mean that everyone that hits for the cycle is a complete hitter, except perhaps during that particular game. In the 60-plus years of major league baseball played in Houston, an Astro has hit for the cycle only nine times. Considering that the franchise has seen 15 no-hitters, hitting for the cycle is a rare feat, indeed.

Since Cesar Cedeno accomplished the feat twice, only eight Astros are part of this exclusive club.

We also want to give Kevin Bass an "Honorable Mention" for performance beyond the call of duty. When presented with an opportunity to hit for the cycle in 1987, Bass turned an easy, 7th-inning single into a hustling double. He may not "officially" have hit for the cycle, but he belongs on this list nonetheless.

A final note: I would like to personally thank David Smith at Retrosheet for the play-by-play information on this page.

The Cycles:

Date	Player	Result
August 2, 1972	Cesar Cedeno	Astros 10, Reds 1
August 9, 1976	Cesar Cedeno	Astros 13, Cardinals 4
June 24, 1977	Bob Watson	Astros 6, Giants 5
August 25, 1992	Andujar Cedeno	Cardinals 5, Astros 3
July 18, 2001	Jeff Bagwell	Astros 17, Cardinals 11
April 8, 2002	Craig Biggio	Astros 8, Rockies 4
July 28, 2006	Luke Scott	Diamondbacks 8, Astros 7
July 19, 2013	Brandon Barnes	Mariners 10, Astros 7
August 28, 2023	Jose Altuve	Astros 13, Red Sox 5
June 27, 1987	Kevin Bass*	Astros 6, Giants 5

Fast "Cycle" Facts:

• Cesar Cedeno is the only Astro to hit for the cycle more than once
• After his trade to Boston, Bob Watson became the first player in major-league history to hit for the cycle in each league
• Dan Larson is the only Astro pitcher to start two games in which an Astro hit for the cycle
• Andujar Cedeno is the first Astro to hit for the cycle in a losing cause, and the first Astro to require extra innings
• Three of the team's cycles have come against the St. Louis Cardinals
• The most difficult hit, the triple, has been the first hit in three of the team's cycles
• Luke Scott's 2006 cycle was done in perfect reverse order, the first in Astros history. He was also the first Astro rookie to hit for the cycle.

Cesar Cedeno - August 2, 1972 - Cincinnati at Houston

first in team history (c) Houston Astros Center fielder Cesar Cedeno became the first Astro in franchise history to hit for the cycle, doing it in front of a home crowd at the Astrodome in a 10-1 rout of the Cincinnati Reds. Don Wilson started the game against Gary Nolan and pitched masterfully, allowing only one run and six hits in a complete-game effort. Cedeno batted second in the lineup, behind shortstop Roger Metzger. A summary of Cedeno's game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9      R  H E
Cincinnati    0 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 0  --  1  6 0
Houston       0 0 3  0 3 1  0 3 x  -- 10 16 1

1st inning: 1 out, nobody on. Cedeno doubles to right-center, but is stranded when Jim Wynn flies out to left and Lee May strikes out.
3rd inning: 2 outs, Tommy Helms on third. Cedeno homers to left field, driving in the team's first two runs.
5th inning: 0 outs, Roger Metzger on third. Cedeno singles to right field, scoring Metzger and making the score 4-1. Cedeno was then thrown out by Johnny Bench attempting to steal second base.
6th inning: 0 outs, Roger Metzger on first, Jim McGlothlin pitching. Cedeno grounds into a fielder's choice, shortstop to second. Cedeno then scored when Jim Wynn doubled to center field.
8th inning: 0 outs, Roger Metzger on first, Pedro Borbon pitching. In his last at-bat, Cedeno triples to right-center, scoring Metzger and making the score 8-1. Wynn then drives in Cedeno with a sacrifice fly to right field.

For the night, Cedeno went 4-for-5 with 4 RBI.

Cesar Cedeno - August 9, 1976 - Houston at St. Louis

only Astro with two cycles (c) Houston Astros Center fielder Cesar Cedeno hit for the cycle for the second time in his career, leading a late charge in an error-filled, 13-4 rout of the Cardinals in St. Louis. Most of the damage came against future Astro Bob Forsch, who lasted until the 8th inning. Dan Larson pitched a complete game for the Astros, allowing only two earned runs in the victory. Cedeno batted third in the lineup, behind leadoff hitter Greg Gross and second baseman Jerry DaVanon. A summary of Cedeno's game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9      R  H E
Houston       1 0 0  0 0 1  4 7 0  -- 13 14 2
St. Louis     0 2 0  0 0 0  0 2 0  --  4  7 3

1st inning: 2 outs, nobody on. Cedeno triples to right-center, scoring on an error by the pitcher, Bob Forsch.
3rd inning: 2 outs, Jerry DaVanon on first. Cedeno pops out in foul territory to first baseman Keith Hernandez to end the inning.
6th inning: 0 outs, nobody on. Cedeno homers to lead off the inning, tying the game, 2-2.
7th inning: 2 outs, bases loaded. Cedeno breaks the game open, clearing the bases with a double to left field, making the score 5-2. All three runs are unearned since pitcher Dan Larson had reached base earlier on an error by shortstop Garry Templeton. Cedeno then advanced to third on a wild pitch by Forsch and scored on an infield single by Bob Watson.
8th inning: 0 outs, 4 runs in, runners on 1st and 3rd, Eddie Solomon pitching. Cedeno drives in Greg Gross from third with a single to right, completing the cycle. Jerry DaVanon also scores and Cedeno moves to third on an error by right fielder and future Astro Joe Ferguson. After a foul pop by Watson, Cedeno scores on a groundout to second base by Jose Cruz.

For the night, Cedeno went 4-for-5 with 5 RBI.

Bob Watson - June 24, 1977 - San Francisco at Houston

a cycle in each league (c) Houston Astros First baseman Bob Watson joined Cesar Cedeno as the only players to hit for the cycle. Although the game lasted 11 innings before the Astros prevailed 6-5, there is no asterisk by Watson's performance since he completed the cycle before being removed for a pinch-runner in the 8th inning. Watson was the #5 hitter, batting behind cleanup hitter and catcher Joe Ferguson. Future Astro Bob Knepper starts for the Giants but is replaced in the 8th inning just before Watson completes his cycle. Dan Larson starts for the Astros, giving him the obscure distinction of starting two games in which an Astro hit for the cycle. A summary of Watson's game:

                                   1 1
              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9  0 1     R  H E
San Francisco 0 0 0  3 1 0  1 0 0  0 0 --  5 10 2
Houston       3 0 0  0 1 0  0 1 0  0 1 --  6 11 1

1st inning: 1 out, bases loaded. Watson triples in the team's first three runs, driving in Wilbur Howard, Enos Cabell, and Joe Ferguson. Watson was unable to score on ground outs by Jim Fuller and Art Howe.
3rd inning: 1 out, nobody on. Watson doubles following a Joe Ferguson groundout to third base. After Jim Fuller strikes out, Watson advances to third on an Art Howe single but is stranded when Julio Gonzalez flies out to end the inning.
5th inning: 2 outs, nobody on. With his team down 4-3, Watson ties the game with a solo home run.
8th inning: 0 outs, Cesar Cedeno on second, future Astro Randy Moffitt pitching. Down 5-4, Watson again ties the game with an RBI single, scoring Cedeno. Cedeno's run was unearned since Joe Ferguson reached on an error by ex-Astro second baseman Rob Andrews. Cedeno came in the game to pinch-run for Ferguson and stole second. After the single, Watson was removed from the game for pinch-runner Art Gardner. The Astros would win the game in the 11th inning on an RBI double by Jose Cruz.

For the night, Watson went 4-for-4 with 5 RBI.

Andujar Cedeno - August 25, 1992 - St. Louis at Houston

in a losing cause (c) Houston Astros Shortstop Andujar Cedeno became just the third Astro to hit for the cycle, joining Cesar Cedeno and Bob Watson. The 15-year span since Watson's quadrafecta is the longest "cycle drought" in club history. Despite Cedeno's heroics and a 15-hit attack by the team, the Astros are unable to pick up any key hits, stranding 12 runners in the 5-3, 13-inning loss. But for Cedeno, all 13 innings were needed for the cycle as he picked up his last two hits in extra innings. Cedeno was the #7 hitter, the lowest lineup position for any Astro to have hit for the cycle. Although neither pitcher lasted until the end, Darryl Kile started for the Astros against Rheal Cormier. A summary of Cedeno's game:

                                   1 1 1  1  
              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9  0 1 2  3     R  H E
St. Louis     0 0 0  0 0 2  0 1 0  0 0 0  2 --  5 13 0
Houston       0 1 0  1 0 0  1 0 0  0 0 0  0 --  3 15 0

2nd inning: 2 outs, Eric Anthony on first. Cedeno laces the first pitch he sees into right field for a triple, driving in the team's first run.
4th inning: 2 outs, 1 run in, Eric Anthony on second. Cedeno flies out to Felix Jose in right field to end the inning.
7th inning: 2 outs, nobody on, Mike Perez pitching. With the game tied 2-2, Cedeno gives the Astros the lead, driving a 1-1 pitch to deep left field for a solo home run.
9th inning: 1 out, nobody on, Todd Worrell pitching. Cedeno walks, but does not score.
11th inning: 1 out, nobody on, Bob McClure pitching. Cedeno doubles to center field on an 0-2 pitch, but could not score on a single to right field by Luis Gonzalez. Cedeno was then thrown out at home by Bernard Gilkey for the third out trying to score the winning run on a fly ball by Casey Candaele.
13th inning: 1 out, nobody on, Lee Smith pitching. Cedeno completes the cycle by singling to center field on a 1-2 pitch. Cedeno was stranded on first base as Smith retired the next two batters to pick up the save.

For the night, Cedeno went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI.

Jeff Bagwell - July 18, 2001 - St. Louis at Houston

two hits, one inning (c) Houston Astros First baseman Jeff Bagwell became the fourth Astro to hit for the cycle, leading the team to wild and sloppy 17-11 victory over the Cardinals. Of the five "cycles" hit by Astros, three have come against the Cardinals. The game was marked by fielding miscues and neverending offense. Bagwell was batting third in the lineup and saved the best for last, legging out a triple on his last at-bat. Rookie phenom Roy Oswalt started for the Astros against Mike Matthews, but both pitchers were knocked out of the game by the fifth inning. A summary of Bagwell's game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9     R  H E
St. Louis     1 0 1  0 6 1  2 0 0 -- 11 18 2
Houston       4 2 0  0 8 1  2 0 x -- 17 16 2

1st inning: 1 out, Craig Biggio on second. On a 1-1 pitch, Bagwell drives in the team's first run with a single to center. Bagwell would later score on a three-run home run by Moises Alou.
2nd inning: 2 outs, 2 runs in, nobody on. Bagwell flies out to center on a 2-2 pitch, ending the inning.
5th inning: 0 outs, nobody on, Luther Hackman pitching. Bagwell leads off the inning by driving a 3-2 pitch to deep left center for a double. Lance Berkman immediately follows with a double of his own, scoring Bagwell for the team's 7th run.
5th inning: 2 outs, 5 runs in, runners on first and second. In his second at-bat of the inning, Bagwell caps an 8-run outburst by homering to left field on a 1-0 pitch, scoring Craig Biggio and Julio Lugo.
7th inning: 1 out, Craig Biggio on third. Bagwell completes the cycle by tripling to right center on a 2-0 pitch. Bagwell then scored on a single by Lance Berkman.
8th inning: 2 outs, Julio Lugo on first. Bagwell walks on a full count and is forced out on a grounder to second by Lance Berkman.

For the night, Bagwell went 4-for-5 with 5 RBI.

Craig Biggio - April 8, 2002 - Houston at Colorado

intentionally walked (c) Houston Astros Second baseman Craig Biggio became the fifth Astro to hit for the cycle, banging out four of the team's 10 hits in an 8-4 road victory over the Colorado Rockies. Denny Neagle bore the brunt of Biggio's onslaught, who had to work around an intentional walk to get his four hits. A summary of Biggio's game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9     R  H E
Houston       0 1 3  2 0 0  0 2 0 --  8 10 0
Colorado      0 0 0  0 0 0  1 3 0 --  4 13 1

1st inning: 0 outs, nobody on. Biggio singles to center and is later doubled up on a grounder Jeff Bagwell.
3rd inning: 1 out, nobody on. Biggio triples to left and scores on a single by Brad Ausmus.
4th inning: 1 out, Brian Hunter on second. Biggio homers to left, scoring Hunter.
6th inning: 2 outs, Brian Hunter on second. Biggio is walked intentionally and is stranded after advancing to second.
8th inning: 1 out, Morgan Ensberg on second, Brian Hunter on first. Biggio doubles to left, scoring Ensberg and Hunter. Biggio is stranded at third.

For the day, Biggio went 4-for-4 with a walk and 4 RBI.

Luke Scott - July 28, 2006 - Arizona at Houston

Scott completes cycle with 11th-inning single (c) Houston Astros Rookie utility player Luke Scott became the sixth Astro -- and the first Astro rookie -- to hit for the cycle, accounting for four hits and five RBIs in an 8-7, eleven-inning home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Scott's cycle came in perfect reverse order: homer (fourth inning), triple (fifth), double (seventh), and single (eleventh), a first in Astros history. The fourth-inning homer was the first of his major league career. A summary of Scott's game:

                                   1 1
              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9  0 1     R  H E
Arizona       0 0 2  1 1 1  2 0 0  0 1 --  8 17 1
Houston       0 0 0  3 1 0  2 1 0  0 0 --  7 14 0

2nd inning: 0 outs, nobody on. Scott grounds out to second.
4th inning: 1 out, Mike Lamb on second, Aubrey Huff on first. Scott homers to left, Lamb and Huff score.
5th inning: 2 outs, Aubrey Huff on second. Scott triples to center, Huff scores.
7th inning: 1 out, Aubrey Huff on second, Preston Wilson on first. Scott doubles to right, Huff scores, Wilson to third.
11th inning: 2 outs, nobody on. Scott singles to right.

For the day, Scott went 4-for-6 with 5 RBI.

Brandon Barnes - July 19, 2013 - Seattle at Houston

Barnes completes cycle with 8th-inning double (c) Houston Astros Rookie outfielder Brandon Barnes became the seventh Astro to hit for the cycle, accounting for five hits and two RBIs in an 10-7 home loss to the Seattle Mariners. Barnes was batting seventh in the lineup behind J.D. Martinez and Justin Maxwell. A summary of Barnes' game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9     R  H E
Seattle       0 0 0  4 0 2  0 3 1 -- 10 11 0
Houston       0 1 0  1 0 1  0 3 1 --  7 16 0

2nd inning: 2 outs, nobody on. Barnes homers to center.
4th inning: 2 outs, Justin Maxwell on first. Maxwell advances to second on a wild pitch. Barnes triples to right, Maxwell scores.
6th inning: 1 out, J.D. Martinez on first. Barnes singles to right, Martinez advances to third.
8th inning: 0 outs, Justin Maxwell on first. Barnes doubles down the right field line, Maxwell advances to third.
9th inning: 2 outs, nobody on. Barnes singles on a roller to third.

For the day, Barnes went 5-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Jose Altuve - August 28, 2023 - Houston at Boston

Altuve joins another select group of Astros (c) Houston Astros Veteran infielder Jose Altuve became the eighth Astro to hit for the cycle, accounting for four hits and four RBIs in an 13-5 rout of the Boston Red Sox. Altuve batted first in the lineup, striking out against Chris Sale to lead off the game before the explosion started. A summary of Altuve's game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9     R  H E
Houston       0 1 1  0 1 6  2 2 0 -- 13 18 0
Boston        2 0 0  0 2 0  0 0 1 --  5 10 1

Honorable Mention

Kevin Bass - June 27, 1987 - Houston at San Francisco

team player (c) Houston Astros In the 7th inning of a June, 1987 game in San Francisco, right fielder Kevin Bass needed only a single to become just the third player in Astros history to hit for the cycle. With the Astros leading, 6-2, the game seemed well in hand. So when Bass lined an easy single to left field, he seemingly joined an exclusive group. But Bass was not thinking about individual accomplishments, but rather making sure his team won the game. Instead of stopping at first, he hustled to second and barely beat the throw in to pick up a double. He lost the distinction of hitting for the cycle, but won a place in the hearts of countless Astros fans. For that, he deserves consideration on this page. Bass batted #5 in the lineup behind Glenn Davis. Jim Deshaies started for the Astros against Kelly Downs. A summary of Bass's game:

              1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9     R  H E
Houston       2 1 0  0 3 0  0 0 0 --  6 11 1
San Francisco 0 1 0  0 1 0  1 0 2 --  5  6 0

1st inning: 2 outs, runners on first and second. Bass drives in the team's first two runs with a double to left field, scoring Denny Walling and Glenn Davis. Bass would be stranded at second when Jose Cruz pops out to shortstop.
3rd inning: 1 out, nobody on. Bass triples to right field, but is stranded when Jose Cruz strikes out and Alan Ashby grounds out to first base.
5th inning: 0 out, 1 run in, Denny Walling on second. Bass sends Kelly Downs to the showers with a two-run homer to right field, giving the Astros a 6-1 lead.
7th inning: 2 outs, nobody on. Bass forgoes the "cycle" and legs out a double on a ball hit to left field. He is stranded when Jose Cruz strikes out.

For the night, Bass went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI.